Cyprus Tulips
Tulipia Cypria is an endemic endangered wild species, found only in a few locations in North Cyprus, near the villages of Tepebasi in the Guzelyurt region, and Avtepe, in the Karpas region.
In March every year, both villages hold festivals celebrating the flower. There is normally music performances and conducted walks to the clustered areas of these beautiful wild flowers.
The Green Action Group, which was established in 1988, organises these festivals as part of its public awareness campaign about the importance and protection of the endemics and other flora of Cyprus.
When the tulip was introduced to Europe, it caused great excitement, with specimens changing hands for large amounts of money in a frenzy of speculative buying known as "Tulipomania".